Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Ahsan H Mansur has announced that the global payment platform PayPal is set to begin operations in Bangladesh soon. The primary goal is to provide a crucial digital channel for small entrepreneurs to easily sell products and receive payments from international markets, including Europe and America.
The Governor highlighted that small entrepreneurs struggle to use traditional Letter of Credit (LC) procedures for small consignments. PayPal will eliminate this hurdle, simplifying cross-border sales.
The platform will resolve major payment difficulties faced by freelancers and those involved in outsourcing, who often have trouble receiving international payments. The Governor strongly linked cash transactions to corruption, stating that "Wherever there is corruption, you will find cash transactions." He noted that approximately Tk 20,000 crore is spent annually on cash handling, and the central bank aims to gradually reduce cash dependence. He stressed the need to increase agricultural loans from the current 2% of total loans to 10% to develop the sector. While the central bank has a Tk 25,000 crore fund for SME loans, banks lack the capacity or will to disburse the money.
The Governor praised the massive increase in food grain production, which has grown from 1.3 crore tonnes in 1971 to nearly 4 crore tonnes today—more than triple—while the population has only slightly more than doubled.
The statement by Governor Ahsan H Mansur on December 2, 2025, constitutes the most recent official update, indicating PayPal's imminent arrival. This reiterates a long-standing government commitment to bring the service to Bangladesh to support the significant freelance and small business community. Although a concrete launch date is not given, the Governor's confirmation at a high-profile event signals that negotiations and regulatory arrangements are nearing completion.
